WINNIPEG – A city council committee has approved a proposal that parking fines be doubled in snow zones during snow-clearing operations.

The Infrastructure and Public Works Committee on Tuesday accepted four changes to Winnipeg’s snow clearing policy, including fines of $300 ($150 with early payment) for illegal parking and reprioritizing sidewalk snow removal.

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“Unfortunately, people need to feel it in the pocketbook if they leave their vehicles on the street,” said Brad Sacher, the director of public works. “We feel fines would make a difference.”

There are 5,000 tickets handed out every time Winnipeg does a major snow-clearing operation, Sacher said, and the numbers are going up, not down.

“We’re not getting the compliance we thought we would.”

St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal was the only councillor to vote against the fine increases. He said he wants the city to better inform the public about snow-clearing operations.

“Communication is not getting out there like we want it,” he said.

The proposals do include suggestions for improving communication about when neighbourhoods will be cleared.

The recommendations will now go to the city’s Executive Policy Committee, and if they pass that hurdle, city council will vote on whether to make them law.

The changes include adjusting snow zones so streets can be plowed on schedule, specifically referring to streets in Osborne Village that haven’t been cleared regularly.

There’s also a provision for punitive measures against contractors who dump snow on sidewalks or private property.

The proposals come with a $672,000 increase to the 2014 snow clearing budget and another $1.66 million in the 2015-17 budgets.